Skill 24: Taking a Cervical Smear

Task: Perform a cervical smear correctly and safely on a manikin

Satisfactory completion of task: when all relevant aspects of the task,

governed by the following principles, are demonstrated:
 adequate preparation of the patient and tools for the procedure
 conduct of the procedure adheres strictly to principles of standard
precautions
 consideration of patient safety and comfort
 adequate documentation of the procedure
 recognition of limitations and possible complications

Checklist
Expected Actions

1 Preparation
 Inform the patient of the procedure and obtain verbal consent
 Request for chaperone if appropriate
 Lay out all the necessary equipment (speculum, cervical brush, glass
slides, cytology preservative, lubricant, etc.) Label the glass slide
using a pencil

2 Prepare the patient:

 Position the patient supine with the knees flexed and legs apart
 Expose only the necessary part

3 Wash/disinfect hands

4 Don clean gloves

5 Procedure:
 Lubricate the speculum
 Inform the patient when about to insert the speculum
 Part the labia minora using the index and middle finger of the non-
dominant hand
 Gently insert the Cusco’s speculum with screw facing upwards
 As the speculum advances, visualize the cervix
 Open the blades and fix them in an opened state by tightening the
screw
 Place the pointed tip of the spatula into the external cervical os and
rotate it through 360 degrees ensuring that it is always in contact
with the cervix
 Remove the spatula and smear it onto the slide lengthwise, (single
strokes, no overlapping)

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IMU CSSC CS Tutors checklist ( Competency Profile March 2013 )
  Release the screw on the speculum and carefully remove it from the
vagina ensuring that the cervix or vaginal mucosa are not caught in
between

6 Fix the slide in the cytology preservation solution (alcohol solution)

7 Remove gloves and dispose them appropriately

8 Wash hands

9 Document the procedure

10 Inform the patient of the findings

YAW/RL Sept 2013

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IMU CSSC CS Tutors checklist ( Competency Profile March 2013 )